Topic:
Francis George Goodwin

Topic type:

Frances George Goodwin was a Canterbury First World War soldier whose life is commemorated on the Waltham War Memorial Gates.

FRANCIS GEORGE GOODWIN

Frances Goodwin known as Frank was born in 1986. Francis was the son of Alfred and Bessie Goodwin of 46 Mowbray Street Waltham Christchurch New Zealand.

Francis’ occupation before enlistment was an Engineer.

Francis fought in the First World War 1914 -18. Francis enlisted and joined the 20thReinforcements, Canterbury Infantry Battalion, C Company, New Zealand Expeditionary Force. His service number was 34664. He embarked from the Port of Lyttelton on HMNZT 71. The vessel left in February 1917 to go to Plymouth in Devon England.

Francis was just 21 when he was killed in action in Ypres, Belgium, on 16th August 1917. He is buried in the London Rifle Brigade Cemetery, Comies-Warneton, Hainaut, Belgium.

The Third battle of Ypres known simply as Passchendaele took place from the 16 – 18 August 1917. On the 16th August, at Langemarck, to the West of Passchendaele four days of fierce fighting resulted in a British victory; the gains were small however for the high number of casualties incurred. On that day in a renewed thrust of the Allied Offensive the British troops captured the village of Langemarck from the Germans. The day was overcast and cloudy and Francis George Goodwin died in action on that day.